Fiber picking and separating machine.



No. 800,947. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. A. M. SHEAKLEY.

FIBER PIGKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 No. 800,947. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. A. M. SHEAKLEY.

FIBER PIGKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4. 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET Z.

@ WQ WM UNITED STATES PATENT orruca.

ARTHUR M. SHEAKLEY, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO HERCULES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STOCKTON, CALIFOR- NIA, A CORPORATION.

FIBER PICKING AND SEPARATING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Applicati n fil d August 4, 1904. Serial No. 219,446.

To all w/wm, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. SHEAKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fiber Picking and Separating Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in picking and separating machines, and particularly to that class used in separating and preparing Manila rope orfiber for use in mortar for plastering purposes; and my object is to produce a machine of novel character which will quickly, effectually, and thoroughly separate said fiber ready to be baled or otherwise prepared for retail or wholesale trade. This object I accomplish by the peculiar construction and relative arrangement of parts herein fully specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the same in crosssection. Fig. 3 is a View of a picking-tooth.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

1, 2, 3, and 4 are upright supporting-beams. Across the tops of the beams 1 and 2 is secured a longitudinal beam 5, and across the tops of the beams 3 and 4 a beam 6. The space between the beams 1 and 2 and also between the beams 3 and 4 are provided with suitable side walls 7 and 7, respectively. On the beams 5 and 6 are journaled shafts 8, 9, and 10 at equal distances apart. On one end of said shaft 8 is secured a pulley 11 and at the other a pulley 12. On the same shaft just inside the beams 5 and 6 are secured cylinder-heads 13 and 14, respectively. Crossbars 15 are bolted to said cylinder-heads, and

strap-irons 16 and 17 are shrunk around saidbars and cylinder-heads. Said bars are pro- 22 represents nuts mounted on said threaded portions.

On the shaft 9 on the same side of the machine as is the pulley 11 is secured a pulley 23, and on the same shaft between the beams 5 and 6 is secured acylinder 24, on which are arranged four cross-slats 25, in which are embedded teeth 26, which teeth alternate between the teeth 19.

On the end of the shaft 10 which is on the same side of the machine as is the pulley 23 is secured a pulley 27 and on the other end a pulley 28. On the same shaft just inside the beams 5 and 6 are secured cylinder-heads 29 and 30 of the same size as the cylinder-heads 16 and 17, fastened to which are cross-bars 31, similar. to the cross-bars 15, but with more slots 18 and teeth 19. Strap-irons 31 and 32 are shrunk around the cross-bars and cylinder-heads 29 and 30, respectively. Underneath each cylinder-head are located curved supportingbars 33, provided each with a slot 34, open at one end and closed at the other, said bars being pivoted at one end to shafts 35, journaled in the side walls 7 and '7 and provided with two lugs 36, between which a tongue 37 fits loosely, which tongue is secured on a shaft 38, journaled in the side walls 7 and 7, and is provided with a lever or handle 39. In the slots 34 are cross-bars 40 and 41, the first having teeth 19 secured in them similarly as they are in the bars 15 and the last being plain bars, said bars 40 and 41 being arranged alternately. Those bars under the cylinders 16 and 17 have the same number of teeth as the bars on the cylinders above them, and the teeth on the bars under the'cylinders 29 and 30 are in like manner similar in number to the teeth on the bars carried by said cylinders 29 and 30.

42 is a feed device the floor of which extends to the beginning of the first set of curved bars 33.

43 is a floor beneath the cylinder 24, which connects the bars beneath the cylinders.

44 is a floor leading from the end of the last curved bars to the end of the machine.

46 is a belt connecting the pulleys 12 and 28, and 46 is a belt connecting the pulleys 23 and 27.

47 is a boX or casing adapted to fit over the picking-cylinders and rest on the beams 5 and 6.

The operation is as follows: Any motive power is applied to the pulley 11 on the shaft 8, and this revolves the pulley 12, which by means of the belt 46 revolves the pulley 28, the shaft 10, and pulley 27, which in turn, by means of the belt &6, revolves the pulley E23 and shaft 9. Thus it will be seen that the three cylinders on the shafts 8, 9, and 10 revolve in the same direction fast or slow, according to the amount of motive power applied to the pulley 11. The old rope or Manila hemp after it is cut into suitable lengths is conveyed by the conveyor .2 to the cylinders, where the teeth on the first cylinder tear it apart. Those on the second throw it to those on the third, where it is thoroughly picked to pieces and discharged out the rear of the machine. When the fiber is easily separated and picked, then the bars beneath the cylinders may be as low as possible; but when the material is tough and hard to separate then the bars may be raised, by means of the levers 39, to a point close to the cylinders, and thus the fiber will be subjected to a more strenuous combing by the teeth.

A suction-flue or other device may be located at the rear of the machine to convey the separated fiber to any point desired.

Although I have shown the teeth on the small cylinder alternating with those on the large cylinder at the upper end of the drawings in Fig. l and so arranged that two of the teeth on the small cylinder will pass between each pair of teeth on the lower cylinder at the lower end of that figure, still in practice they may be in any relative position desired.

The purpose of having the shoulders 20 on the teeth 19 is so that they will fit snugly in the slots 18, and thus they will be strengthened and prevented from breaking out so easily. hen a tooth does break, however, it may be readily unbolted and taken out and another substituted.

When the teeth in the cross-bars 40 break, the bars may be taken out of the slot 3% and the broken teeth replaced with new ones.

ll: have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of parts embraced in the present and preferred embodiment of my invention. I do not desire, however, to be understood as conhning myself to such specific detail, as such changes and modifications may be made in practice as fairly fall within the scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character set forth, the combination with a suitable frame, three shafts arranged in horizontal alinement and journaled on said frame, a picking-cylinder carried by each such shaft, a plurality of parallel cross-bars arranged beneath the cylinder at each end of the machine, curved supportingbars adjustably mounted on the frame below each of the cylinders at the ends thereof and supporting said cross-bars, and a flat horizontal floor extending from the cross-bars beneath the cylinder at one end of the machine to the cross-bars beneath the cylinder at the other end of the machine and under the intermediate cylinder.

2. In a device of the character set forth the combination with a suitable frame, three shafts mounted on said frame, a picking-cylinder mounted on each said shaft, curved supporting-bars pivotally mounted on the frame, below each of the two end cylinders, cross-bars carried by said curved supporting-bars, means for separately adjusting said curved supporting-bars at their forward ends, a feed device leading to the first cross-bar beneath the first cylinder, and a flat horizontal floor extending below the intermediate cylinder, substantially as described.

3. The combination with suitable upright beams and cross-beams thereon, of three shafts journaled .on said cross-beams at equal distances apart, a large picking-cylinder on each shaft, a small picking-cylinder on the middle shaft, curved supporting-bars arranged beneath said cylinders, parallel curved bars supported by said supporting-bars, side walls on the upright beams, a removable covering-box for said cylinders, means for conveying material to said picking-cylinders, and means for revolving said cylinders all in the same direction, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR M. SHEAKLEY. lVitnesses:

PERCY S. TEBsTER, JOSHUA B. Vansrnn.

ISO 

